RTD begins construction on Colorado’s longest bridge

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
image description
A rendering of the Skyway Bridge in Adams County, Colo.
RTD

One of the bridges along Denver Regional Transportation District's (RTD) North Metro Rail Line will be the longest in the FasTracks program. It will also be the longest bridge in Colorado. Construction began in early August 2015 and it will take about two years to complete.

 

The Skyway Bridge will be 9,533 feet long and will carry commuter trains through north metro Denver, crossing 11 existing transportation corridors and waterways. For comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge spans nearly 8,980 feet, the Brooklyn Bridge is 5,989 feet and Colorado’s Royal Gorge Bridge spans 1,260 feet. The bridge will have 64 spans, 63 piers and two abutments and at its highest point, the Skyway Bridge will stand almost 50 feet above grade.

The Skyway Bridge design took nearly a year-and-a-half and required six engineers: two full-time for the duration of the design, three part-time and one full-time senior engineer who managed design oversight. It will be assembled in sections.

The bridge will begin its northward rise south of York Street in Commerce City. It spans above and across York Street, BNSF and Union Pacific tracks and spurs (four times), Brighton Boulevard, the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company ditch (three times), Sand Creek and I-270. The bridge will touch down adjacent to Bambei-Walker Reservoir, south of 68th Ave.

The Skyway Bridge is part of the 18.5-mile-long North Metro Rail Line project that will run from Denver Union Station through Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton. It’s scheduled to open in 2018.

 

Tags: